Hartford Financial Services Group struck a deal with Forethought Financial Group, a privately held financial services company, to sell its its individual annuity operations.

A Tampa, Fla.-based managed care services provider will pay $137.5 million to the federal government and nine states to settle four lawsuits accusing the company of violating the federal False Claims Act.

A Pennsylvania-based employee benefits administrator were sold a national insurance company as part of the latter company’s efforts to respond to health reform.

Austin Mutual Insurance Co., a Minnesota-based regional property-casualty insurer, is affiliating with The Main Street America Group, a super regional property-casualty insurance carrier building its midwestern footprint.

A Puerto Rican group denounced State Farm Insurance for using former Indiana Hoosier basketball coach Bobby Knight in its TV advertisements appearing during NCAA March Madness men’s college basketball tournament games.

OneAmerica, based in Indianapolis, Ind., saw its retirement business have its most successful year in all major sales categories last year, as well as retain 95% of existing business.

An Indiana-based insurance company approved to sell health insurance products in Pennsylvania has been charged with small businesses “unreasonably high premium increases” after increasing rates 12%, according to federal officials.

Keystone Insurers Group, a Northumberland, Pa.-based insurance broker, announced its 11th franchise partner in Tennessee, increasing Keystone’s growth rate to 10% in the state, according to the firm.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) granted a second round of awards totaling $109 million to 28 states and Washington, D.C., to further implement federal health reform.

An independent insurance agency owner with an office in New York is among the new leadership installed to lead the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big I).